Leadership.

[Chronomar]

Whenever I have a miniature "leading" episode, like controling a group project, as I do always, it really ends up that I just take all the work for my self. I'm not really leading anybody, I'm just doing the work. I somewhat see that in INTP leaders in real life. They really weren't the best at managing others, they were just able to take over multiple people's work. Is that being a leader exaclty? I don't really know.

 

[loveofreason]

That's a good observation.

I'm abysmal at delegation. Delegating skills make a good leader. Trying to do it all yourself makes a mess.

 

[Jordan~]

I tend to treat everyone else as a tool. I'm the brain, everyone I'm in charge of is an implement for the exertion of my will.

 

[Sapphire Harp]

i think that coming up with ideas, discussing them with people and coming up with the best plan of action, giving the order and having it carried out by my underlings would be great, but i don't think i could put up with peoples petty bickering and emotional instability.

I hear you on that. Whenever a group discussion arises about what a group is going to do, I typically get frustrated for the last third of the discussion. It's usually people bringing up very self-specific interests, revisiting disregarded ideas, etc... Very rarely does anything change; the best idea is already on the table, but the conversation goes on and on.

I suppose this is people wanting to feel like they've been heard before they'll accept a consensus, even if they aren't actually adding anything.
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[Artifice Orisit]

The INTP mind is a mechanical device of logic and structure; hence we don't quite understand the need for others to be included. So an INTP either requires absolute unquestionable command or they must learn how to manage people, or support an existing leader.

 

[Perseus]

It is very tempting to adopt the existential detached position on the Millon Spinning Top

see

Millon Personality Circulargram
http://www.millon.net/taxonomy/index.htm

 

[EditorOne]

"So an INTP either requires absolute unquestionable command or they must learn how to manage people, or support an existing leader."

Actually I've had some success in this leadership thing simply by not wrecking the very good things the people I'm leading get themselves into. That does require, however, letting go, and accepting that the way they shape things might not be the way I'd shape things, and that's fine so long as the basic reason for existence of the enterprise isn't threatened.

Admittedly this ummmm management style? evolved because of deeply harbored resentment against managerial intrusion in my own work over the years, but folks are pretty responsive. The reaction to NOT being treated as a clumsy and possibly evil child in your chosen field couldn't help but be positive. :-) You need clear understanding of how success is measured and a belief on their part that you're not setting them up to fail in order to justify later meddling and finger-pointing.

 

[FusionKnight]

I tend to treat everyone else as a tool. I'm the brain, everyone I'm in charge of is an implement for the exertion of my will.

I think this is more or less what I do, although it's really not as fascist as it sounds. I won't necessarily seek out leadership positions, but I will step up if nobody else will (which seems to happen to me a lot). When I do, I tend to direct the group towards the goals I think are best rather than try and control the actual work. I'm much more interested in developing the ideas, and letting the group machinery take care of the implementation.

I also tend to be the first person in a group to come to a big-picture understanding of the problem or issue, so perhaps that's what usually lands me in the leadership role. It's very easy for me to generate a vision of where we're headed, which is what a leader is for...

 

[Brainstew]

Your words cause me to muse about my current situation. I have been advising managers for two years, and was asked recently to consider a promotion to leadership. It is a difficult decision because I enjoy leading leaders from behind the scenes. With that said, I am not sure I want to manage people because I may not have time to think deeply about creative solutions and strategies for leadership, rather my time may gobbled up by pedantic people problems. What is your advice?